1

group pictures in the park
for homecoming
waiting my turn

2

weekend ends 
curled up in a blanket 
talking through a phone screen 

3

friend's family  
together at a restaurant
I don't speak 

4

homecoming photos
faces I admire and miss
do they miss me?

5

squeaky gym 
bad music 
please let me go

6

first college homecoming
my family comes
to visit

7

panadería
warm bread and 
chatter with neighbors

8

back home
Illinois river
smells the same

9

high school baseball team
runs drills on the field
do they remember me?

10

homecoming game
football team loses
the band was great

11

her dress
matches my tie
my dad drops us off

12

two assignments left
i check
my flight information

13

late night Taco bell 
the obligatory yap session
with my home friends

14

homecoming parade
band lines up
at the fairgrounds

15

before the game
a moment of silence for
our rival’s fallen player

16

favorite team
I hold my breath
touchdown

17

the smell of burgers 
off of the grill 
post-game dinner

18

graffiti-covered wall
surrounded by nature
equally beautiful

19

nighttime chores
tucking the house
in for bed

20

sneaking around
the floor creaks—
my cover is blown

21

dive bar burger
ketchup escaping
from the sides

22

apple picking
love
in the crisp air

23

blue and white
fill the roads
big game

24

family dog
knows everything
maybe too much

25

hands up and out
the window
memories flooding in

26

man's best friend
saves his life
again . . .

27

lost game.
the silent car ride full
of father's disappointment

28

bread a little hard
jelly a little chunky
perfectly edible

29

Superbowl night
I eagerly watch
the commercials

30

dinner outside
sweaty, buggy
it’s better this way

31

down the slide
she plugs her nose 
ready to land

32

pool water like glass
a frog jumps in 
a small ripple persists

33

colorful diving sticks 
he feels the bottom 
for his goggles . . .

34

my plate full
mom's plate empty
money is tight

35

fully clothed
the lake stares at us
I'll do it if you do it!

36

saturday night 
cheap red wine in hand 
girls night

37

winding mud tracks 
of paws 
and shoe soles

38

warm coffee
full cup
everyone’s here

39

family gathering
surprise
a new addition

40

college acceptance
I text . . .
your ghost

41

enjoying the breeze
lunch outside
joined by four legs

42

greeting my cousins
family reunion
at grandma’s funeral

43

flames dance around me
a sip and a smile
this is fine, I lie

44

the yellow boat
waits against the dock
knock, knock, knock

45

a nail glimmering
in the dark
hornet dances

46

unmarked police
pulled over
another speeding ticket

47

off to college
loaded car
no hug

48

set fire to her sorcery
a witch!
no, a woman